A heart-warming tale of a loving friendship that forms between an old man who lives by the sea and a lost dog he finds on the shore.

Sam is an eccentric old sailor who lives alone in an old tramcar by the sea. He loves scouring the beach for treasures. One morning after a big storm, he finds a small dog among the debris washed up by the sea, and the fluffy little fella is only just alive. Sam rescues him and nurses him back to health, and an enduring friendship forms between the lonely old man and the abandoned dog.

• A story about how friendships can form at the unlikeliest of times.
• A heart-warming tale complemented by characterful ink and watercolour illustrations.
• An interesting story about an eccentric old sailor and a fluffy rescue dog.

The Author-illustrator

Dick and Judy Frizzell met at Art School in Christchurch, New Zealand in 1962. They got married in 1964 and moved to Auckland. Dick took illustration work to support his growing family. In 1981 he was awarded the Russell Clark Memorial Medal for his Illustrations for the New Zealand Christmas book, A Pukeko in a Ponga Tree, which is still in print today! In 2000, he was awarded the New Zealand Order of Merit for his services to art and illustration. Today Judy and Dick live in Auckland, where Dick continues to paint and illustrate, and Judy continues to be his mentor, minder, and manager.

Fountas & Pinnell Guided Reading Levels

Guided Reading Level: M

Grade Level Equivalent: 2

Educational Descriptions

Picture book, Story elements: setting; beach, plot and character development, main character, Sam, the old sailor, Illustrations enhance meaning and tone, Imagery, vivid and detailed text, figurative language: metaphor, alliteration, Comprehension strategies: Predict outcomes, identify cause and effect relationships, sequence of events, & changes from beginning to end of the story, Themes: finding a “treasure”, dog rescue.

Interest Age: 5 to 8 years

Reading Age: 7 to 8 years

RRP: $14.99

ISBN: 978-1-76036-091-7

Format: Paperback

JUVENILE FICTION / Animals / Dogs
JUVENILE FICTION / Science & Nature / Environment
JUVENILE FICTION / Family / General